6 - Osaka and Kyoto

6 - Osaka and Kyoto

6am morning. Still have some mixed feelings about the food tour, I don't regret trying it because in other cities have had good experiences but it wasn't quite what I hoped for here. The Australian dad there was entertaining and really into it was was fun though but also definitely way overate.

Finally moving, lots of tour buses around the hotel

Walking through a different Osaka than the busy shopping streets, or skater crowd thrift shop area, or the shin sekai weirdness

Fun shops

Fancy coffee shop, got to choose nice light roast beans

And really good buttered toast

Passed by the history museum on the way to the castle, might check it out after

Castle time

It's a really pretty castle but the way the presentation flows wasn't ideal, it was a bit confusing when going up floors as it didn't start you where the floor order started... It also felt repetitve to read about letter after letter without the background on these characters.

Museum curation is truly not easy.

Nice little pond the lady at the coffee shop recommended with a reflection

Now it's time to Kyoto

Welcome to Kyoto

Rainy day, first since the day we arrived, hopefully the last

At at a Hokkaido somen place, owner I was very chatty and wanted to practice his English and had a very rehearsed routine, food was good though! Also had a book full of recommendations which we may use

Then hotel, get ready and then after, also started a load of laundry to replenish supplies

Laundry done, decided to add a Gion walking tour after the show, time to get ready

Seated, it's still raining out but if it was gonna rain any day today is best as Osaka was fine, the train, then laundry, then this indoor performance and hopefully less crowding for the night tour. We still have our nice rain jackets we got for the West Highland Way anyway

That was really fun, of course I couldn't take photos during but it was really well done. The optional audio guide in one ear feels like it's critical to understand what you're seeing and hearing unless you're a super history buff I think though... Gion walking tour in the rain next

It was a bit cold and rainy but overall I enjoyed it but towards the end it was about rough do I'll just dump pics. The guide really reminded us of wife's sister, it was eerie.

And more

Weird bunny

Somehow camera got stuck in super light mode for a bit

And now back at hotel, more tomorrow!